Hot cocoa mix brownies

 This is the time of the year when you want brownies...let me correct myself any time of the year when you want brownies and you are out of the brownie box mix or cocoa powder and you have the hot cocoa mix packets on hand...you have pretty much all the ingredients you need to make brownies. And they were super delicious.

Hot cocoa mix brownies (Brownies made with Hot Cocoa Mix packets)

Hot Cocoa mix brownie

Ingredients:

1. 5 packets hot cocoa mix (either plain or with mini marshmallows)
2. 1 1/2 cup all purpose flour
3. 1 teaspoon baking powder
4. 3/4 cup melted butter
5. 1 cup granulated sugar
6. 2 eggs
7. 1 teaspoon vanilla essence

Pre heat the oven to 350 degrees

Melt butter and add the sugar and mix until the sugar dissolves. Add the eggs and vanilla essence and mix well. Shift the flour with the baking powder and add to the butter and egg mixture . Add the cocoa mix and stir to combine.

Prepare a 8x8 baking dish and add the batter to the pan and bake for 35-37 minutes until toothpick comes out clean.

Let stand atleast 5 minutes before cutting it and enjoying the delicious chocolaty brownies

Spicy Tuna Rice

 Another rice dish. Looks like there are as many rice dishes as there are vegetables and protein in this world. So here you go...one more.

Spicy Tuna Rice (Tuna Stir fried rice with Indian spices)

Spicy Tuna Rice

Ingredients:

1. 1 can Tuna in water, drained
2. 1 cup basmati rice cooked according to package directions
3. 2 dried red chillies
4. 1/2 medium small onion sliced
5. Few curry leaves
6. 1 teaspoon finely chopped ginger
7. 1/ teaspoon each of cumin, mustard seeds, split black gram (optional)
8. 1 teaspoon each of salt, Andhra fish curry powder
9. 1 medium small bell pepper cut into 1 inch cubes (optional)
10. 1 tablespoon oil

In a pan heat the oil and add the mustard and cover and let fry until they splutter. Add cumin, black grams, broken red chillies and curry leaves and fry for a 30 seconds. Add onions and fry for 5 minutes. Add bell pepper if using and ginger and stir well. Add drained tuna and fry for 2 minutes. Add rice and all the spices and salt and stir to combine. Cover and cook for 2 minutes on medium low heat. Garnish with cilantro and serve with a lemon wedge

Baked Mexican Rice

 I have tried making Mexican tomato rice on the stove stop and oin the rice cooker but it never turned out like the restaurant style. I finally made it in the ove and the results were spectacularly delicious.

Baked Mexican Rice

Ingredients:

1. 1½ cups white, uncooked
2. 3 cups chicken broth
3. 1 cup crushed tomatoes 
4. 1/4 cup each of finely chopped onion, carrots, frozen corn thawed
5. 1 large clove of garlic, finely chopped or crushed
6. 2 tablespoons oil 
7. 1/2 teaspoon cumin 
8. 1/2 - 3/4 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a 9x9 pan, combine all ingredients and stir until everything is evenly distributed.

Cover tightly with foil.

Place carefully in oven and bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour.

Remove from oven and leave covered until ready to serve.

Onions and garlic may settle on the top. Fluff with a fork to mix them evenly into rice.

Enjoy with your favorite Mexican sides